Anyone using the 8 ft flipping rods?

Nuke Powered Bassin · April 04, 2019, 06:29:57 PM

I have always used a 7.5 ft rod for flipping and punching, and am wondering it anyone can give me a real word opinion in the longer 8 ft rods. I am thinking about building one, but don't want to be a waste if they aren't worth having the extra 6 inches. My current setup is one that I made on the old shakari fs764 blank. Thanks for the feedback in advance.

coldfront · April 04, 2019, 11:39:59 PM

yes. why wouldn't a guy? all my 'power' rods are 7.5 - 8 foot.
and those that are shorter than 8 feet are because longer wasn't available at purchase.

shortest rods in the boat anymore are 6 10. (not sure when that became short, but it sure has!)

Deadeye · April 05, 2019, 05:39:19 AM

I bought into the Bigger is Better Phase that was sweeping the Bass World a few years back and Bought a 8 ft Flip/Pitching Rod. I find that I rarely use it.

I prefer a 7'3'' to 7'6'' Rod for ease of use. The 8 fter is Heavy to me to handle and has a Bulky Feel to it. Now that could be because it is one of those Skeete Reese Rods made by Wright McGill I don't know.

I have 2 of their 7'6" Heavy Jig/Big Worm Rods and Love them. Use them for lots of stuff from Frogging to Swim Baits and Swim Jigs to Flipping Creature Baits and Jigs.

Just don't care for that 8 fter.

Also now most Boats are made to hold them but my 2004 Ranger 185 VS was not. I can fit a 7'6" in any rod hole with no Problem, but that 8 ft rod will only fit in one spot and it barely fits in the box period. It ends up laying on the bottom of the box. I only use it for REALLY THICK AND HEAVY MATS where I need a 2 oz weight to get through.

Given the chance to go back and buy a 7'3" to 7'6" vs this 8 ft I do it in a heart beat.

But you may love one. I'd say go to a shop that sells them and try several for balance and feel then decide.

coldfront · April 05, 2019, 06:59:57 AM

Quote from: Deadeye on April 05, 2019, 05:39:19 AM
But you may love one. I'd say go to a shop that sells them and try several for balance and feel then decide.

i think that's a key here: balance. no matter length, if the rod doesn't balance it will not feel 'light' and responsive.

SFL BassHunter · April 05, 2019, 07:24:24 AM

I have a 7'4 and a 7'6. Depending on where I go, is which I pick. think I've hit my limit at 7'6.

Pferox · April 05, 2019, 07:53:46 AM

Most of my rods are 7 footers, but .....

I have a few and like 7.6 footers, for me, they are just the right size to carry around different piers in my fishing cart, and cast well, I do use the flipping technique on piers when I want to target a certain spot accurately, BTW.

I have a couple of 8 footers that I use but not as often because they have to be taken apart to fit anywhere, and to me, that is just a hassle (yea I'm spoiled that way).

Most of my rods are Fiberglass or E-glass, so they are all heavier than most but they balance out with the reels I put on them, and aren't that bad to use for the amount of casting I do in a session.

Nutoy · April 05, 2019, 09:24:28 AM

For me, rods are like tools. The right tool always works better than wrong tool.
By this in reference to rod length, I look at what I'm needing for a particular application.
If I'm flipping/pitching to targets where extreme accuracy is needed, I tend to select my shorter flipping/pitching rods, 7'4"s-7'6"s. I'm very accurate with these lengths and can hit a golf ball sized hole in thick cover from 20'-25'.
If I'm flipping/pitching deep Hydrilla, say 14'-20' deep, I go with the longer 8+'ers. Accuracy is not a issue and I can take up line faster and have more leverage with the longer rod.
A persons height will also have a bearing on what feels comfortable to them.
It's all about what you feel comfortable with.

SteveTX · April 05, 2019, 08:28:48 PM

I have a 7'11" flipping rod. Its fine for flipping not nearly as good for pitching.

To be fair I do a very small amount of flipping.

njpaulc · April 08, 2019, 09:55:34 AM

First off, an 8 foot Flippin' Rod is 8 feet for presentation, not for fish fighting. The longer the rod, the less leverage you have. Look at a lever to move a heavy weight, the longer end is the more the powerful end because it gives you more leverage, same with a rod.

An 8 foot rod is great if you need to make longer flips, the distance you can flip is a function of the amount of line you have out, which is a function of the length of your fishing rod and your arms.

The only 8 foot Flippin' Rod I ever picked up is the Duckett Gary Klien rod, and it felt great, if I needed a long rod, and if it didn't have micro guides (and honestly if it weren't a Duckett) I might have bought it.

coldfront · April 08, 2019, 10:24:22 AM

on a bit of a contrarian note: a longer rod allows better leverage through more, better angles when fighting fish. love that longer rod, for instance, like, when yesterday that big fish ran under the boat.

helps keep line 'where it needs to be'.

and length is not everything. tip action plays a huge role too.

(yes, that's what she said)

njpaulc · April 08, 2019, 10:53:49 AM

If you look at stand up big game (mostly tuna) rods they are short and have a fore grip about half way up the blank to decrease the fish's leverage and to increase the anglers control. Next time you hook a fish, grab the rod by the butt with one hand, then grab it up by the reel, see when you have more control. Maybe, with a shorter rod, the fish never gets under the boat.